Know Where You Stand

Know Where You Stand

Assess and then act!

The path to carbon positive is clear. So, let’s get healthy, happy and sustainable together.

How can you take steps to eliminate your office’s emissions, cut water usage and waste, or improve your indoor environment quality if you don’t know where you stand? Measurement is always the first step to better management. That’s why CitySwitch is supporting signatories to achieve NABERS ratings.

By collaborating with your building owner to undertake NABERS Co-Assess ratings for energy, water, waste or IEQ you’ll gain a big picture view, set a baseline and benchmark your office against best practice before taking action.

Want to know more? We’ve developed a suite of handy resources to get you started:

  • Learn more about why a NABERS rating can help you on the road to carbon positive
  • Download our simple waste assessment tool to get a snapshot of what is going in your bins and uncover smart solutions for your office
  • Check out the Museum of Futures to see where your choices today can lead us tomorrow.

By taking collective action towards a carbon positive future, we can achieve our goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

Know Where You Stand resources

Green grants for office tenants

Grants are available from national, state and local governments for green office programs.

CitySwitch rating discount

A reduced administration fee applies for a NABERS Energy tenancy or whole building rating carried out by or on behalf of CitySwitch Signatories. See how to claim a discount voucher.

NABERS Office Rating

NABERS is a national rating system that measures the environmental performance of Australian buildings, tenancies and homes. For offices NABERS can be used to rate an office tenancy, the base building or the whole building and show how you measure up against others and where there are opportunities to improve environmental performance.

NABERS estimated rating calculator

The NABERS tools provide a way to measure the environmental performance of offices, buildings or tenancies. This  online tool allows you to estimate your office's NABERS star rating, before seeking an accredited rating.

Level 2 Energy Audit

The Australian/ New Zealand Standard 3598:2000 for provides a methodology for three levels of Energy Audit to determine energy use and provide action items for a plan. Purchase and download the standard from the SAI Global website.

List of NABERS Accredited Assessors for Tenancies

To obtain your accredited NABERS star-rating baseline you need to engage an accredited assessor. CitySwitch compiles and maintains a list of accredited NABERS assessors working with tenancies, rather than base buildings.

Explainer: Green Star and NABERS Ratings

How are Green Star, NABERS used in office tenancies? Currently these two voluntary national accreditation programs exist to measure and report on environmental performance of office tenancies and assist in guiding best practice office fit-outs, and they can be complementary.

CitySwitch Guide to Occupant Surveys

For any health and wellness project, gathering qualitative data through an occupancy survey is a great place to start.

Resources

Choosing sustainable accommodation

Choosing sustainable accommodation In Sydney, accommodation and event venues are responsible for 21 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, 14...

View resource

CitySwitch Signatory of the Year and New Signatory Awards - category judging criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 28 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 10 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 10 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points).
Note, new Signatories submitting for New Signatory of the Year Award need only complete an indicative rating – all other submissions must be accredited.

CitySwitch Partnership of the Year Award - category judging criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Submitted projects should:

  • Involve more than one registered company 
  • Demonstrate that they are  innovative and over and above “business as usual”
  • Demonstrate that they catalyse “market transformation” and or “address a market barrier”
  • Deliver a reduction in energy consumption and carbon emissions within the built environment 

Judging Criteria

  • Delivering outcomes as demonstrated by an improved or maintained current NABERS Energy rating and achieved energy savings* (up to 14 points)
  • Implementing one or more energy saving initiatives (up to 10 points)
  • Demonstrating leadership by undertaking innovative, creative or progressive office energy efficiency activities (up to 17 points)
  • Engagement of staff/ customers/suppliers and/or stakeholders to educate and create market transformation (up to 17 points)
  • Participation in CitySwitch local program activities (up to 10 points)
  • The submitting entity MUST be a CitySwitch Signatory
Note, Signatories submitting for the Partnership of the Year Award may submit an accredited NABERS tenancy, whole building or base building rating.

It’s easy and free to join the program. Your good-will commitment to the program is an acknowledgement of the business sector’s role in
contributing to environmental sustainability and your intention to reduce your own energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

As part of this, Signatories to the program commit to achieve an accredited NABERS Energy tenancy rating (between 4 and 6 stars) and
work with CitySwitch to improve their tenancy’s environmental performance.

Find out more about how obtaining a NABERS Energy rating ensures you can benchmark your performance, better manage your progress
over time and promote your star rating achievement.